Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has revealed that his camp have started talks with Mike Tyson’s teams as they attempt to set up a trilogy fight.
The pair last fought in 1997, a year after their first fight in 1996, and are both well into their fifties now. Holyfield defeated Tyson for the WBA heavyweight title in bout number one, only for Tyson to get himself disqualified by infamously biting his opponent's ear early in the rematch.
54-year-old Tyson, twice a world heavyweight champion himself, fought in December 2020 in an exhibition match against fellow veteran Roy Jones Jr.
Holyfield, 58, told The Sun that talks were underway for another fight.
“The thing is that if it’s meant to be it will happen, either way, it is what it is,” he said.
“What I can tell you is that my team is talking to Mike’s management, so I’m waiting for a decision. They are communicating right now.
“The thing is I’m still training for this, I know it will be some day this deal will happen and I’m ready for him. I’m doing play.”
After seeing the public interest in the Jones-Tyson fight that raised tens of millions of dollars, Holyfield predicted that a rematch with Tyson would raise even more.
“Where an opportunity is available,” he said, “I like to make the best out of what I have. I believe if I fought Mike the fight will generate $200million.
“It will be the biggest fight there is. That’s the honest truth. I think Mike has my message already. If he is going to do it he is, if not then he’s not.
“It’s a decision he has to make now and we both have to be in an agreement. I’m not going to tell anybody what I’m going to do – my strategy I’m planning on using against Mike – I don’t want anyone to know. I’m happy if Mike fights me.”